Softballs Drops MAAC Doubleheader To Manhattan

NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College softball team dropped both ends of a conference doubleheader to Manhattan Sunday afternoon at Rice Oval. A late rally in the sixth inning allowed the Jaspers to steal an 8-7 victory in game one before the Jaspers would take a commanding 9-2 win in the finale.

In the opener, Manhattan put the Gaels in an early hole, scoring six runs in the top of the second inning. Sydney Weedon was credited with a two-run single in the frame before Elena Bowman delivered the inning's biggest hit on a home run to left center off Iona reliever Carly Argyle.

Iona would slowly chop away at the opposition's lead, answering first with three runs in the bottom of the second courtesy of a pair of long balls. Sophomore Allison Hand led off the inning with her fourth home run of the season before Argyle connected on her second big fly of the year.

In the third inning, freshman Sarah Schutz touched up Manhattan reliever Amy Bright for her fifth home of the season, and fourth in the last six games, to trim the Iona deficit to two.

Iona would take the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman Brianna King led off the inning with a single up the middle. Argyle followed with a walk. A sacrifice bunt would push the runners into scoring position before senior Bath Kann drew a walk after a 12 pitch at-bat to load the bases. King would score on a wild pitch before Schutz delivered a go-ahead ground rule double to left center, putting Iona ahead 7-6.

After being held off the scoreboard for three straight innings, Manhattan would plate the winning runs in the sixth inning when an Iona error scored two unearned runs off Argyle.

Argyle (5-14) took the loss for Iona, allowing four runs, two earned, over six innings while striking out two and walking six. Erin Hamm (1-2) got the win for Manhattan, pitching three scoreless innings of relief.

In game two, Manhattan scored six runs over the first three innings off Iona starter Jordan Courage, including a three run third inning in which Jen Keller plated Jocelin Whitmore with a double to left center.

Iona scored its first run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by senior Beth Kann.

The score would remand the same until the bottom of the sixth. Argyle scored Allison Hand with a single up the middle. Iona would load the bases later with two out but could not put across any more runs.

Manhattan would put the game out of reach with a three run seventh inning to secure its fourth MAAC win of the season.

Courage (1-6) was credited with the loss, allowing six runs, five earned, on nine hits and one walk in 2.2 innings. Argyle allowed three runs, two earned, in 4.1 innings of relief. Kelsi Redding went the distance for Manhattan to pick up her second win of the season, allowing two runs, one earned, on eight hits and five walks while striking out five.

Iona looks to get back on track next weekend, beginning with a single non-conference contest at St. John's (12:00 pm).